System and Method for a Customized Fifth Generation (5G) Network

ABSTRACT

An embodiment logical function architecture for next-generation 5G wireless networks may include a control plane comprising a software defined topology (SDT) logical entity configured to establish a virtual data-plane logical topology for a service, a software defined resource allocation (SDRA) logical entity configured to map the virtual data-plane topology to a physical data-plane for transporting service-related traffic over the wireless network, and a software defined per-service customized data plane process (SDP) logical entity configured to select transport protocol(s) for transporting the service-related traffic over a physical data-plane of the wireless network. An embodiment virtual service specific serving gateway (v-s-SGW) for next-generation 5G networks may be assigned specifically to a service being provided by a group of wirelessly enabled devices, and may be responsible for aggregating service-related traffic communicated by the group of wirelessly enabled devices.

This patent application is a divisional of U.S. Non-ProvisionalApplication 14/639,572 filed on Mar. 5, 2015 and entitled “System andMethod for a Customized Fifth Generation (5G) Network,” which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/948,507, filed on Mar.5, 2014 and entitled “5G Radio Access Network Architecture (SoftwareDefined RAN),” and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/994,626, filedon May 16, 2014 and entitled “System and Method for a Customized 5GNetwork,” all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein as ifreproduced in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a system and method for wirelesscommunications, and, in particular embodiments, to a system and methodfor a customized fifth generation (5G) network.

BACKGROUND

Fifth Generation (5G) wireless networks may represent a major paradigmshift from previous wireless networks. For example, 5G wireless networksmay utilize high carrier frequencies with unprecedented numbers ofantennas. Moreover, 5G wireless networks may be highly integrative,tying any potentially new 5G air interface together with LTE and WiFi toprovide universal high-rate coverage with a seamless user experience. 5Gwireless networks may also include densely deployed heterogeneous radioaccess networks (RANs) having macro base stations and low power nodesthat are inter-connected via wireless access mesh backhaul networks.

SUMMARY

Technical advantages are generally achieved, by embodiments of thisdisclosure which describe systems and methods for a customized fifthgeneration (5G) network.

In accordance with an embodiment, a method for providing controlfunctions in next-generation wireless networks is provided. In thisexample, the method includes establishing a virtual data-plane logicaltopology for a service by a software defined topology (SDT) logicalentity, mapping the virtual data-plane topology to a physical data-planefor transporting service-related traffic over a wireless network, by asoftware defined resource allocation (SDRA) logical entity, andselecting transport protocol(s) for transporting the service-relatedtraffic over a physical data-plane of the wireless network by a softwaredefined per-service customized data plane process (SDP) logical entity.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method for establishing avirtual gateway is provided. In this example, the method includesinstantiating a first virtual user-specific serving gateway (v-u-SGW) ona network device, and assigning a first local v-u-SGW ID to the firstv-u-SGW. The network device is assigned a host identifier (ID).Different v-u-SGWs on the network device are assigned different localv-u-SGW IDs. The method further includes configuring routing parametersin the network so that packets specifying both the host ID and the firstlocal v-u-SGW ID are forwarded to the first v-u-SGW.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method for routing traffic isprovided. In this example, the method comprises receiving a traffic flowfrom an upstream network node. The traffic flow is destined for a userequipment (UE) associated with a virtual user-specific serving gateway(v-u-SGW) instantiated on a network device. The method further includesidentifying address information specified by the service-relatedtraffic, and forwarding the traffic flow to a downstream network node inaccordance with the address information. The address informationindicates a host ID assigned to the network device and a local IDassigned to the v-u-SGW.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, a method for managing networkservices is provided. In this example, the method includes identifying aservice being provided to a group of wirelessly-enabled devices. Thegroup of wirelessly-enabled devices includes user equipments (UEs),machine-to-machine (M2M) devices, or combinations thereof. The methodfurther includes assigning a virtual service specific serving gateway(v-s-SGW) to the service. The v-s-SGW is responsible for aggregatingservice-related traffic communicated by the group of UEs.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, a method for locationtracking is provided. In this example, the method includes identifyinguser equipments (UEs) positioned in wireless networks, and trackinglocations of the UEs via a device location tracking as a service (LTaaS)layer. The locations of the UEs are dynamically updated as the UEs moveto different locations in the wireless networks. A first one of the UEsis positioned in a first wireless network. Tracking the locations of theUEs via the LTaaS layer comprises determining that the first UE isnearby a first network device in the first wireless network, andupdating a central control center in the LTaaS layer to indicate thatthe first UE is located nearby the first network device in the firstwireless network.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, a method for content cachingis provided. In this example, the method includes sensing the popularityof available content by a content forwarding service manager (CFM). Theavailable content is stored in one or more application servers. Themethod further includes selecting, from the available content, contentfor caching in an information-centric networking (ICN) virtual network(VN) based on the popularity of the available content; and prompting theselected content to be forwarded to a network device in a radio accessnetwork (RAN) of a wireless network. The network device comprises avirtual ICN server of the ICN VN. The network device is adapted toprovide the selected content to a virtual user-specific serving gateway(v-u-SGW) of a served user equipment (UE) upon request.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, another method for contentcaching is provided. In this example, the method includes receivingcontent at a network device in a wireless network. The network devicecomprises a virtual information-centric networking (ICN) server of a ICNvirtual network (VN). The method further includes caching the content inan ICN format, receiving a content request from a virtual user-specificserving gateway (v-u-SGW) of a served UE, and forwarding the content inthe ICN format to the v-u-SGW. The v-u-SGW is adapted to translate theselected content from the ICN format to a user-specific format beforerelaying the translated content to the served UE.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment wireless communicationsnetwork;

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment 5G network architecture;

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of embodiment logical function architecturefor next-generation 5G wireless networks;

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of a virtual data-plane logical topologyestablished over the embodiment 5G network architecture depicted in FIG.2;

FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram of a physical data-plane 550 topologyestablished over the embodiment 5G network architecture depicted in FIG.2

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate embodiment 5G network architectures thatdemonstrate naming structures for virtual SGWs;

FIG. 7 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment 5G network architecturefor providing location tracking as a service (LTaaS);

FIG. 8 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment 5G network architecturefor content caching;

FIG. 9 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment communications device; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment computing platform.

Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generallyrefer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated. The figures aredrawn to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the embodiments andare not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The structure, manufacture and use of embodiments are discussed indetail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the presentinvention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can beembodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to makeand use the invention, and do not limit the scope of the invention. Asused herein, the term “wireless network” refers to a network adapted toprovide wireless access to wirelessly enabled devices. A wirelessnetwork may include multiple network-side devices connected by wirelessand/or wireline links, and may include multiple network domains, e.g.,multiple radio access networks (RANs), one or more evolved packet core(EPC) networks, etc. Unless otherwise specified, the term “wirelessnetwork” does not imply that the network is currently providing wirelessaccess. For example, a wireless network may be offline (e.g., formaintenance, etc.). As another example, the wireless network may beonline without presently serving any users.

Aspects of this disclosure provide an embodiment logical functionarchitecture for next-generation 5G wireless networks. The logicalfunction architecture includes a data plane, a control plane, and amanagement plane. The control plane includes a software defined topology(SDT) logical entity configured to establish a virtual data-planelogical topology for a service, a software defined resource allocation(SDRA) logical entity configured to map the virtual data-plane topologyto a physical data-plane for transporting service-related traffic overthe wireless network, and a software defined per-service customized dataplane process (SDP) logical entity configured to select transportprotocol(s) for transporting the service-related traffic over a physicaldata-plane of the wireless network. The management plane may includeentities for performing various management related tasks. For example,the management plane may include an infrastructure management entityadapted to manage spectrum sharing between different radio accessnetworks (RANs) and/or different wireless networks, e.g., wirelessnetworks maintained by different operators. The management plane mayalso include one or more of a data and analytics entity, a customerservice management entity, a connectivity management entity, and acontent service management entity, which are described in greater detailbelow.

Aspects of this disclosure further provide a virtual service specificserving gateway (v-s-SGW) for next-generation 5G networks. The v-s-SGWis assigned specifically to a service being provided by a group ofwirelessly enabled devices, and is responsible for aggregatingservice-related traffic communicated by the group of wirelessly enableddevices. In an embodiment, the v-s-SGW provides access protection forthe service-related traffic by encrypting/decrypting data communicatedover bearer channels extending between the v-s-SGW and thewirelessly-enabled devices. The v-s-SGW may also provide a layer two(L2) anchor point between the group of wirelessly-enabled devices. Forexample, the v-s-SGW may provide convergence between the differentwireless communication protocols used by the wirelessly-enabled devices,as well as between different wireless networks and/or RANs being accessby the wirelessly-enabled devices. Additionally, the v-s-SGW may performat least some application layer processing for the service relatedtraffic communicated by the wirelessly-enabled devices. Aspects of thisdisclosure further provide an embodiment device naming structure. Forthe v-s-SGW. Specifically, a v-s-SGW initiated on a network device isassigned a local v-u-SGW ID. Outgoing packets from the v-u-SGW IDinclude the local v-u-SGW ID and a host ID of the network device.Accordingly, recipients of those outgoing packets can learn the localv-u-SGW ID and the host ID associated with a particular v-s-SGW, andthereafter send packets to the v-s-SGW by including the local v-u-SGW IDand the host ID in the packet header.

Aspects of this disclosure further provide location tracking as aservice (LTaaS) for next-generation 5G networks. The LTaaS feature maytrack locations of user equipments (UEs) via a device location trackingas a service (LTaaS) layer such that locations of the UEs aredynamically updated in a LTaaS layer as the UEs move to differentlocations in the wireless networks. In some embodiments, the LTaaS layerconsists of a centralized control center. In other embodiments, theLTaaS layer consists of a set of distributed control centers positionedin the wireless network, e.g., an application installed on a networkdevice, such as a gateway or AP. In yet other embodiments, the LTaaSlayer comprises both a central controller center and regional controlcenters. In such embodiments, the central control center may be updatedperiodically by the regional control centers, which may monitor UEmovement in their respective wireless networks. In embodiments, theLTaaS layer may monitor general locations of the UEs. For example, theLTaaS layer may associate the UE's location with a network device in aspecific wireless network, e.g., an access point, a serving gateway(SGW), etc.

Aspects of this disclosure also provide content caching techniques fornext-generation 5G wireless networks. Specifically, content may becached in network devices of wireless network or radio access network(RAN) in anticipation that a mobile device or user will want to accessthe content in the future. In some embodiments, a content forwardingservice manager (CFM) may select content to be pushed to a cachinglocation in the wireless network based on the popularity of availablecontent stored in one or more application servers. The network devicemay comprise a virtual information-centric networking (ICN) server of aICN virtual network (VN), and may be adapted to provide the cachedcontent to a virtual user-specific serving gateway (v-u-SGW) of a serveduser equipment (UE) upon request. Notably, the cached content is storedby the network device in an information-centric networking (ICN) format,and the v-u-SGW may translate the cached content from the ICN format toa user-specific format upon receiving the cached content pursuant to acontent request. The v-u-SGW may then relay the cached content havingthe user-specific format to a served UE. After the content is pushed tothe network device, the content forwarding service manager (CFM) mayupdate a content cache table to indicate that the content has beencached at the network device. The content cache table may associate aname of the content with a network address of the network device or thevirtual WN server included in the network device. The ICN VN may betransparent to the served UE, and may be operated by one of the wirelessnetwork operators or a third party. These and other aspects aredescribed in greater detail below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network 100 for communicating data. The network 100comprises an access point (AP) no having a coverage area 101, aplurality of mobile devices 120, and a backhaul network 130. As shown,the AP no establishes uplink (dashed line) and/or downlink (dotted line)connections with the mobile devices 120, which serve to carry data fromthe mobile devices 120 to the AP no and vice-versa. Data carried overthe uplink/downlink connections may include data communicated betweenthe mobile devices 120, as well as data communicated to/from aremote-end (not shown) by way of the backhaul network 130. As usedherein, the term “access point (AP)” refers to any component (orcollection of components) configured to provide wireless access to anetwork, such as an enhanced base station (eNB), a macro-cell, afemtocell, a Wi-Fi access point (AP), or other wirelessly enableddevices. APs may provide wireless access in accordance with one or morewireless communication protocols, e.g., long term evolution (LTE), LTEadvanced (LTE-A), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Wi-Fi802.11a/b/g/n/ac, etc. As used herein, the term “mobile device” refersto any component (or collection of components) capable of establishing awireless connection with an AP, such as a user equipment (UE), a mobilestation (STA), and other wirelessly enabled devices. In someembodiments, the network 100 may comprise various other wirelessdevices, such as relays, low power nodes, etc.

Embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented in 5G wirelessnetworks that include multiple radio access network (RANs). FIG. 2illustrates an embodiment 5G network architecture 200 comprising awireless network domain 201 serving multiple radio access networks(RANs) 210, 220, 230. The wireless network domain 201 may includevarious gateway devices, e.g., packet data network (PDN) gateways,serving gateways (SGWs), while each of the RANs 210, 220, 230 mayinclude one or more access points (APs), e.g., macro-base stations, lowpower nodes, etc.

Aspects of this disclosure provide an embodiment logical functionarchitecture for next-generation 5G wireless networks. FIG. 3illustrates an embodiment logical function architecture 300 fornext-generation 5G wireless networks. As shown, the embodiment logicalfunction architecture 300 comprises a management plane 310, a controlplane 320, and a data plane 330.

The management plane 310 may include entities for performing variousmanagement related tasks. In this example, the management plane 330includes a data and analytics entity 311, an infrastructure managemententity 312, customer service management entity 313, a connectivitymanagement entity 314, and a content service management entity 315. Thedata and analytics entity 311 is configured to provide data analytics asa service (DAaaS). This may include manage on-demand network statusanalytics and on-demand service QoE status analytics for a particularservice, and providing a data analytics summary to a client. Theinfrastructure management entity 312 may manage spectrum sharing betweendifferent radio access network (RANs) in a wireless network, or betweenwireless networks maintained by different operators. This may includewireless network integration, management of RAN backhaul and access linkresources, coordination of spectrum sharing among co-located wirelessnetworks, access management, air interface management, and device accessnaming and network node naming responsibilities.

The customer service management entity 313 may provide customer servicefunctions, including managing customer context information,service-specific quality of experience (QoE) monitoring, and chargingresponsibilities. The connectivity management entity 314 may providelocation tracking as a service (LTaaS) over the data plane of thewireless network. The connectivity management entity 314 may also haveother responsibilities, such as establishing customized and scenarioaware location tracking scheme, establishing software defined andvirtual per-mobile user geographic location tracking schemes, andtriggering user specific data plane topology updates. The contentservice management entity 315 may manage content caching in the wirelessnetwork. This may include selecting content to be cached in RAN,selecting caching locations, configuring cache capable network nodes,and managing content forwarding. In some embodiments, the managementplane may also include a security management entity that is responsiblefor network access security (e.g., service-specific security, customerdevice network access protection, etc.), as well as inter-domain andintra-domain wireless network security.

The control plane 320 may include entities for performing variouscontrol related tasks. In this example, the control plane includes asoftware defined topology (SDT) logical entity 322, a software definedresource allocation (SDRA) logical entity 324, and a software definedper-service customized data plane process (SDP) logical entity 326. TheSDT entity 322, the SDRA logical entity 324, and the SDP logical entity326 may collectively configure a service-specific data plane forcarrying service-related traffic. More specifically, the softwaredefined topology (SDT) logical entity 322 is configured to establish avirtual data-plane logical topology for a service. This may includeselecting network devices to provide the service from a collection ofnetwork devices forming the data plane 330. The software definedresource allocation (SDRA) logical entity 324 is configured to map thevirtual data-plane topology to a physical data-plane for transportingservice-related traffic over the wireless network. This may includemapping logical links of the virtual data-plane topology to physicalpaths of the data plane. The software defined per-service customizeddata plane process (SDP) logical entity 326 is configured to selecttransport protocol(s) for transporting the service-related traffic overa physical data-plane of the wireless network. The transport protocolsmay be selected based on various criteria. In one example, the SDPlogical entity selects the transport protocol based on a characteristicof the service-related traffic, e.g., business characteristic, payloadvolume, quality of service (QoS) requirement, etc. In another example,the SDP logical entity selects the transport protocol based on acondition on the network, e.g., loading on the data paths, etc.

The SDT entity 322, the SDRA logical entity 324, and the SDP logicalentity 326 may have other responsibilities beyond their respective rolesin establishing a service-specific data plane. For example, the SDTentity 322 may dynamically define key functionality forv-s-SGWs/v-u-SGWs, as well as enable mobile VN migration and providemobility management services. As another example, the SDRA logicalentity 324 may embed virtual network sessions, as well as provide radiotransmission coordination. One or both of the SDT entity 322 and theSDRA logical entity 324 may provide policy and charging rule function(PCRF) services.

As discussed above, the SDT entity 322, the SDRA logical entity 324, andthe SDP logical entity 326 may collectively configure a service-specificdata plane for carrying service-related traffic. Specifically, the SDTentity 322 establishes a virtual data-plane logical topology for theservice, the SDRA logical entity 324 maps the virtual data-planetopology to a physical data-plane path for transporting service-relatedtraffic over the wireless network, and the SDP logical entity 326 selecttransport protocol(s) for transporting the service-related traffic overthe physical data-plane.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram 400 depicting a virtual data-plane logicaltopology 450 established for a service over the embodiment 5G networkarchitecture illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, the virtual data-planelogical topology 450 includes a series of logical links 451, 542, 543extending between network devices 411, 422, and 433 adapted to providethe service. In this example, a virtual service specific serving gateway(v-s-SGW) 401 is responsible for aggregating service-related trafficcommunicated between the network devices 411, 422, and 433. In someembodiments, the SDP logical entity 326 may establish the virtualdata-plane logical topology 450 by selecting the network devices 411,422, and 433 to provide the service, as well as the v-s-SGW 401 foraggregating the service related traffic.

FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram 500 depicting a physical data-plane 550 fortransporting service-related traffic over the embodiment 5G networkarchitecture illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, the physical data-plane550 includes physical paths 511-513, 521-524, and 531-534 extendingbetween the v-s-SGW 401 and the network nodes 411, 422, and 433configured to provide the service. In this example, the physical paths511-513 were mapped to the logical link 451, the physical paths 521-524were mapped to the logical link 542, and the physical paths 531-534 weremapped to the logical link 543.

Aspects of this disclosure provide a naming structure for v-s-SGWs innext-generation 5G wireless networks. FIG. 6A illustrates an embodiment5G network architecture 600 that includes v-s-SGWs 612, 614 assigned toaggregate service-specific traffic. As shown, the v-s-SGWs 612, 614 areinstantiated on a network device 610. The v-s-SGWs 612, 614 are assignedto different services. Specifically, the v-s-SGWs 612 is assigned to aservice being provided or accessed by the devices 622, and the v-s-SGWs614 is assigned to a service being provided or accessed by the devices644. While the devices 622, 644 are depicted as access points (APs), itshould be appreciated that any network device may be selected to accessor provide a service, e.g., user equipments (UE), machine-to-machine(M2M) devices, sensors, etc. The v-s-SGWs 612, 614 are assigneddifferent local v-s-SGW identifiers (IDs). In this example, the v-s-SGW612 is assigned a first local v-s-SGW ID (vID-1), and the v-s-SGW 614 isassigned a second local v-s-SGW ID (vID-2). The local v-s-SGW IDs may beused, in combination with an ID assigned to the network device 610 (hostID-1), to communicate with the v-s-SGWs 612, 614. For example, a packet(e.g., data, control, management, or otherwise) specifying the host IDand the vID-1 may be routed to the v-s-SGW 612, while a packetspecifying the host ID and the vID-2 may be routed to the v-s-SGW 614.

Aspects of this disclosure further provide a naming structure forv-u-SGWs in next-generation 5G wireless networks. FIG. 6B illustrates anembodiment 5G network architecture 600 that includes v-u-SGWs 613, 615assigned to UEs 633, 655 (respectively). The v-u-SGWs 613, 615 areinstantiated on a network device 611, and are assigned different localv-u-SGW identifiers (IDs). In this example, the v-u-SGW 613 is assigneda third local v-u-SGW ID (vID-3), and the v-u-SGW 615 is assigned afourth local v-u-SGW ID (vID-2). The local v-u-SGW IDs may be used, incombination with an ID assigned to the network device 611 (host ID 2),to communicate with the v-u-SGWs 613, 615.

Aspects of this disclosure further provide location tracking as aservice for next-generation 5G networks. FIG. 7 illustrates anembodiment 5G network architecture 700 for providing location trackingas a service (LTaaS). As shown, the embodiment 5G network architecture700 comprises network domains 701, 702, and an LTaaS layer 705. Thenetwork domain 701 includes a plurality of gateways 710, 715 and aplurality of APs 712, 714, 716, 718. Likewise, the network domain 702includes a plurality of gateways 720, 725 and a plurality of APs 724,728. The gateways 710, 715, 720, 725 may include any network gatewaye.g., virtual serving gateways (vSGWs) in a radio access network (RAN),SGWs or PGWs in an evolved packet core (EPC), etc.

In this example, the LTaaS layer 705 includes a central control center750 and regional control centers 751, 752 positioned in the networkdomains 701, 702 (respectively). In other examples, the LTaaS layer 705may be completely centralized such that it only includes central controlcenter 750, or completely distributed such that it only includes theregional control centers 751, 752.

The LTaaS layer 705 may track the position of UEs 791, 792 as theymigrate throughout the network domains 701, 702 by monitoring therelative locations of the UEs 791, 792 to network components (e.g., thegateways 710, 715, 720, 725, the APs 712, 714, 716, 718, 724, 728, etc.)in the network domains 701, 702. The granularity with which the LTaaSlayer 705 monitors the position of the UEs 791, 792 may vary acrossdifferent embodiments. In one embodiment, the LTaaS layer 705 monitorsthe position of the UEs 791, 792 in relation to the APs 712, 714, 716,718, 724, 728. In such an embodiment, the LTaaS layer 705 may be updatedwhen a UE migrates from one AP to another, e.g., the UE 791 migratesfrom the AP 714 to the AP 712. In another embodiment, the LTaaS layer705 monitors the position of the UEs 791, 792 in relation to thegateways 710, 715, 720, 725. In such an embodiment, the LTaaS layer 705may be updated when a UE migrates between APs associated with differentgateways, but not when a UE migrates between APs associated with thesame gateway. By way of example, the LTaaS layer 705 may be updated whenthe UE 791 migrates from the AP 714 to the AP 716, as that would requirere-associating the UE 791 with the gateway 715. However, no update maybe triggered when the UE 791 migrates from the AP 714 to the AP 712, asthose APs are both associated with the gateway 710. In yet anotherembodiment, the LTaaS layer 705 monitors the position of the UEs 791,792 in relation to the network domains 701, 702. In such an embodiment,the LTaaS layer 705 may be updated when a UE migrates between wirelessnetwork domains, but not when a UE migrates between different APs in thesame network domain. For example, the LTaaS layer 705 may be updatedwhen the UE 792 migrates from the AP 728 to the AP 718, but not when theUE 792 migrates from the AP 728 to the AP 724.

In yet another embodiment, there may be two layers of LTaaS tracking.For example, the regional datacenters 751 may track the location of theUEs 791, 792 with relation to a network device in the wireless networkdomains 701, 702, and the central datacenter 750 may track whichwireless network domain the UEs 791, 792 are attached. In otherembodiments, the central datacenter 750 may store a carbon copy of thelocation tables maintained by the regional data centers 751, 752.

Aspects of this disclosure also provide content caching techniques fornext-generation 5G wireless networks. FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment5G network architecture 800 adapted for content caching. As shown, theembodiment 5G network architecture 800 comprises network domains 801,802, a wide area network (WAN) 803, and a content location trackinglayer 805. The network domain 801 includes caching capable networkdevices 810, 811 a gateway 815, and a plurality of APs 812, 814, 816,818. Likewise, the network domain 802 includes a caching capable networkdevice 820, a gateway 825, and a plurality of APs 824, 828. The networkdevices 810, 815, 820, 825 may include any network device, such as agateway.

Content stored in application servers 831, 832 may be pushed from theWAN 803 to the caching capable network devices 810, 811, 820 in thewireless network domains 801, 802 by content forwarding service managers(CFMs) instantiated on the regional control centers 851, 852(respectively). For example, the CFMs may sense the popularity ofavailable content stored on the application servers 831, 832, and thenprompt popular content to be pushed to one or more of the cachingcapable network devices 810, 811, 820. In some embodiments, content mayalso be cached in one or more of the gateways 815, 825 and/or APs 812,814, 816, 818.

The caching capable network devices 810, 811, 820 may comprise virtualinformation-centric networking (ICN) servers of a ICN virtual network(VN), which may be transparent to the UEs 892, 894, 896, 898. The ICN VNmay be operated by one of the wireless network operators or a thirdparty. The caching capable network devices 810, 811, 820 may be adaptedto provide cached content to a virtual user-specific serving gateway(v-u-SGW) of a served user equipment (UE) upon request. The v-u-SGWs maybe instantiated on the gateways 815, 825. Notably, the cached contentmay be stored by the caching capable network devices 810, 811, 820 in aninformation-centric networking (ICN) format, and the v-u-SGWs maytranslate the cached content from the ICN format to a user-specificformat prior to sending it to one or more of the UEs 892, 894, 896, 898that requested the content. After the content is pushed to the networkdevice, the content forwarding service managers (CFM) may update contentcache tables in the regional control centers 851, 852 to indicate whichnetwork components in the wireless network domains 801, 802 are cachingthe content. In some embodiments, a central control center 850 in thecontent location tracking layer 805 may store a central version of thecontent cache tables maintained at the regional control centers 851,852. The content cache tables may associate a name of the content with anetwork address of the network device or the virtual WN server includedin the network device.

An embodiment system and method provide a 5G network referred to hereinas MyNET, which is customized to consumers. MyNET includes networkarchitecture and logical functionality architecture.

An embodiment architecture for a customized network, MyNET, provides formachine-to-machine (M2M) communication, private social networking,virtual network migration, security architecture, content in-radioaccess network (RAN), confederation network, customer location trackingas a service, network status analytics as a service, service deliveryquality of experience (QoE) statistics as a service, device/mobile/usernaming architecture, transport protocol, etc. The data plane of eachMyNET network may be customized on a per-service basis. The RAN networkhas a service traffic aware data plane topology. Virtualservice-specific serving gateways (v-s-SGWs) may be created on-demand,and dynamically configured based on machine distributions and trafficcharacteristics.

Virtual mobile user-specific SGWs (v-u-SGW) and connectivity manager(v-u-CM) may be migrated to different network devices. Customizedlocation tracking schemes are provided. Location tracking as a serviceis enabled. The v-u-SGWs' location and functionality are dynamicallyconfigured. The mobile's relative location (RL) is tracked.

A virtual service-specific SGW (v-s-SGW) may be independent from thepublic social network, and may provide service privacy. The v-s-SGW maybe assigned to various services, such as video conferencing.

Aspects of this disclosure provide MyNET end-customer ad-hoc networksupport as an extension of the wireless network infrastructure. TheMyNET end-customer ad-hoc network may have a customer ad-hocnetwork-aware data plane architecture. The WN operator (WNO) mayconfigure one or more ad-hoc virtual cloud SGWs (v-c-SGWs) toforward/aggregate traffic of end-customers in the cloud to the ad-hoccloud GWs.

FIG. 13 illustrates embodiment MyNET support of content-centric network.Cache-in-RAN is controlled by content service (CS) control. Selectivenetwork nodes (NN) (CC-capable NN) are configured with store-and-forwardand late binding functions. Content location is transparent to contentconsumers (v-u-SGW forwards interest/request to local CS controller orclosest CC-node). The WNO communicates with content location resolutionlayer to get the content name-location info. WNO keeps the content namecache—CC-node address information in RAN.

Embodiment MyNET security architectures may provide multiple layernetwork access protection. Embodiment MyNET security architecturesuser/device specific and non-user specific wireless access protection.Preliminary WN access protection material is kept in all edge nodes,independent from customer device (WN-specific), and provides preliminaryWN access protection. Secondary WN protection materials are kept inv-u-SGW, are user/device specific, and provide stronger WN accessprotection. The customer equipment obtains WN network access keymaterials to gain access. VN access materials are kept at edge GW of VNor v-u-SGW and provide VN-specific protection.

Cooperative energy saving mode utilizes surrounding activedevices/network to relay location update message and paging message. TheVN may be active or idle. WN operators manage mobile MAC state and statetransition, manage active VN and idle VN and transition, and managecustomized access MAP. Corporation and collaboration of multiplegeographically co-located and disjointed networks are developed by sameor different operators. The device is independent from the operators.Device location tracking uses cooperation and control (customer LTaaS).WNO registers the location to global control center when a customerenters its WN and the corresponding GW address. WNO retrieves a WN namewhere a mobile customer currently is for data forwarding purposes. Aglobal unique user/device name does not change during movement. Thenetwork access ID (PHYID/MACID) is local RAN-unique and is updatedduring movement. It is fully decoupled with internet protocol (IP).

For each device/UE/user (one user can have multiple devices), devicenaming registration (global) is done offline, and PHYID or networkaccess ID is done on-line and is unique within a local area. For v-u-SGWof each user/device, the naming structure includes the network addressof the network node where the v-u-SGW locates, and a V-u-SGW ID (uniquewithin the network node) are used. For any network nodes, the namingstructure includes intra-location RAN: NN ID (unique within a localRAN), and boundary node (Unique ID and global ID/IP address) are used.For each segment of a data path, the following can be used to identify aflow: flow ID, destination node NA/sub-flow ID, or destination NodeIP/QoS, etc. Flow ID is unique within a local RAN/core. Destination NodeNA is unique within a local RAN/core. Sub-flow ID is unique within adevice.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a communicationsdevice 900, which may be equivalent to one or more devices (e.g., UEs,NBs, etc.) discussed above. The communications device 900 may include aprocessor 904, a memory 906, and a plurality of interfaces 910, 912,914, which may (or may not) be arranged as shown in FIG. 9. Theprocessor 904 may be any component capable of performing computationsand/or other processing related tasks, and the memory 906 may be anycomponent capable of storing programming and/or instructions for theprocessor 904. The interfaces 910 may be any component or collection ofcomponents that allows the communications device 900 to communicate withother devices.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a processing system that may be used forimplementing the devices and methods disclosed herein. Specific devicesmay utilize all of the components shown, or only a subset of thecomponents, and levels of integration may vary from device to device.Furthermore, a device may contain multiple instances of a component,such as multiple processing units, processors, memories, transmitters,receivers, etc. The processing system may comprise a processing unitequipped with one or more input/output devices, such as a speaker,microphone, mouse, touchscreen, keypad, keyboard, printer, display, andthe like. The processing unit may include a central processing unit(CPU), memory, a mass storage device, a video adapter, and an I/Ointerface connected to a bus.

The bus may be one or more of any type of several bus architecturesincluding a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, videobus, or the like. The CPU may comprise any type of electronic dataprocessor. The memory may comprise any type of non-transitory systemmemory such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random accessmemory (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), read-only memory (ROM), acombination thereof, or the like. In an embodiment, the memory mayinclude ROM for use at boot-up, and DRAM for program and data storagefor use while executing programs.

The mass storage device may comprise any type of non-transitory storagedevice configured to store data, programs, and other information and tomake the data, programs, and other information accessible via the bus.The mass storage device may comprise, for example, one or more of asolid state drive, hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an opticaldisk drive, or the like.

The video adapter and the I/O interface provide interfaces to coupleexternal input and output devices to the processing unit. Asillustrated, examples of input and output devices include the displaycoupled to the video adapter and the mouse/keyboard/printer coupled tothe I/O interface. Other devices may be coupled to the processing unit,and additional or fewer interface cards may be utilized. For example, aserial interface such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) (not shown) may beused to provide an interface for a printer.

The processing unit also includes one or more network interfaces, whichmay comprise wired links, such as an Ethernet cable or the like, and/orwireless links to access nodes or different networks. The networkinterface allows the processing unit to communicate with remote unitsvia the networks. For example, the network interface may providewireless communication via one or more transmitters/transmit antennasand one or more receivers/receive antennas. In an embodiment, theprocessing unit is coupled to a local-area network or a wide-areanetwork for data processing and communications with remote devices, suchas other processing units, the Internet, remote storage facilities, orthe like.

With reference to the above discussions, there is provided an embodimentmethod that comprises the steps of establishing, by a software definedtopology (SDT) logical entity, a virtual data-plane logical topology fora service; mapping, by a software defined resource allocation (SDRA)logical entity, the virtual data-plane topology to a physical data-planefor transporting service-related traffic over a wireless network; andselecting, by a software defined per-service customized data planeprocess (SDP) logical entity, transport protocol(s) for transporting theservice-related traffic over a physical data-plane of the wirelessnetwork.

In a further embodiment, establishing the virtual data-plane topologycomprises selecting network devices to provide the service from acollection of network devices forming the physical data plane.Optionally, mapping the virtual data-plane topology to the physicaldata-plane comprises mapping logical links of the virtual data-planetopology to physical paths of the physical data-plane, wherein thelogical links extend between the network devices selected to provide theservice. In a further optional embodiment, selecting the transportprotocol(s) for transporting the service-related traffic over thephysical data-plane comprises selecting the transport protocol(s) inaccordance with a characteristic of the service related traffic.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises managing, by aninfrastructure management entity, spectrum sharing between differentradio access network (RANs) in the wireless network. The method of thisembodiment may further comprise managing, by the infrastructuremanagement entity, spectrum sharing between multiple wireless networks.In another further embodiment, the method may comprise providing, by adata and analytics entity, data analytics as a service. In anotherembodiment, the method may comprise charging, by a customer servicemanagement entity, clients for utilization of the data plane inaccordance with a service agreement. In another embodiment, the methodmay comprise providing, by a connectivity management entity, locationtracking as a service (LTaaS) over the data plane of the wirelessnetwork. In another embodiment, the method may comprise managing, by acontent service management entity, content caching in the data plane ofthe wireless network.

With reference to the above discussions, there is provided an embodimentmethod for establishing a virtual gateway. The method comprisesinstantiating a first virtual user-specific serving gateway (v-u-SGW) ona network device, wherein the network device is assigned a hostidentifier (ID); assigning a first local v-u-SGW ID to the firstv-u-SGW, wherein different v-u-SGWs on the network device are assigneddifferent local v-u-SGW IDs; and configuring routing parameters in thenetwork so that packets specifying both the host ID and the first localv-u-SGW ID are forwarded to the first v-u-SGW.

In a further embodiment, the method may further comprise instantiating asecond v-u-SGW on the network device, wherein the first v-u-SGW and thesecond v-u-SGW are associated with different user equipment; andassigning a second local v-u-SGW ID to the second v-u-SGW, whereinpackets specifying both the host ID and the second local v-u-SGW ID areforwarded to the second v-u-SGW. In an embodiment, the network device isa network device in a radio access network. In an embodiment, thenetwork device is a network device in an evolved packet core (EPC)network.

With reference to the above discussions, there is provided an embodimentmethod for routing traffic. The method comprises receiving, by a firstnetwork device, a traffic flow from an upstream network node, thetraffic flow being destined for a user equipment (UE) associated with avirtual user-specific serving gateway (v-u-SGW) instantiated on anetwork device; identifying address information specified by theservice-related traffic; and forwarding the traffic flow to a downstreamnetwork node in accordance with the address information, wherein theaddress information indicates a host ID assigned to the network deviceand a local ID assigned to the v-u-SGW.

In a further embodiment, the local ID is assigned to the v-u-SGW by thenetwork device.

With reference to the above discussions, there is provided an embodimentmethod. The method comprises identifying a service being provided to agroup of wirelessly-enabled devices, the group of wirelessly-enableddevices including user equipments (UEs), machine-to-machine (M2M)devices, or combinations thereof; and assigning a virtual servicespecific serving gateway (v-s-SGW) to the service, wherein the v-s-SGWis responsible for aggregating service-related traffic communicated bythe group of UEs.

In an embodiment, the v-s-SGW provides access protection for theservice-related traffic communicated over bearer channels extendingbetween the v-s-SGW and wirelessly-enabled devices in the group ofwirelessly-enabled devices. In an embodiment, the v-s-SGW provides alayer two (L2) anchor point between the group of wirelessly-enableddevices. In an embodiment, at least some wirelessly-enabled devices inthe group of wirelessly-enabled devices utilize different wirelesscommunication protocols than one another, and wherein the v-s-SGWprovides a layer two (L2) anchor point for convergence between thedifferent wireless communication protocols. In an embodiment, at leastsome wirelessly-enabled devices in the group of wirelessly-enableddevices are positioned in different radio access networks (RANs), andwherein the v-s-SGW provides a layer two (L2) anchor point for multi-RANconvergence between the different RANs. In an embodiment, theapplication layer processing performed by the v-s-SGW is configured by aclient. In an embodiment, the application layer processing performed bythe v-s-SGW is configured by an operator.

In an embodiment, the v-s-SGW performs at least some application layerprocessing for the service related traffic. Optionally, the v-s-SGWcomputes at least some statistical information corresponding to theservice related traffic, and communicates the statistical information incontrol messages to UEs in the group of UEs, application servers in theone or more application servers, or combinations thereof.

With reference to the above discussions, there is provided an embodimentmethod for location tracking, the method comprising: identifying userequipments (UEs) positioned in wireless networks; and tracking locationsof the UEs via a device location tracking as a service (LTaaS) layer,wherein the locations of the UEs are dynamically updated as the UEs moveto different locations in the wireless networks, wherein a first one ofthe UEs is positioned in a first wireless network, and wherein trackingthe locations of the UEs via the LTaaS layer comprises determining thatthe first UE is nearby a first network device in the first wirelessnetwork, and updating a control center in the LTaaS layer to indicatethat the first UE is located nearby the first network device in thefirst wireless network.

In an embodiment, the LTaaS layer is operated by at least one operatorof the wireless networks. In an embodiment, the LTaaS layer is operatedby a third party that is different than operator(s) of the wirelessnetworks. In an embodiment, the LTaaS layer comprises a central controlcenter that is independent from the wireless networks. In an embodiment,the first network device comprises an access point in the first wirelessnetwork. In an embodiment, the LTaaS layer comprises distributedregional controllers located in the wireless networks.

In an embodiment, the first network device comprises a serving gateway(SGW) in the first wireless network. In an embodiment, the first UE isin a second wireless network that is separate from the first wirelessnetwork, and wherein the method further comprises: sending an updatefrom the central control center in the LTaaS layer to a regional controlcenter in the second wireless network, the update indicating that thefirst UE is located nearby the first network device in the firstwireless network, wherein the regional control center in the secondwireless network is adapted to notify the second UE of a relativelocation of the first UE upon request. Optionally, the second wirelessnetwork is operated by a different network operator than the firstwireless network.

In an embodiment, a first one of the UEs is positioned in a firstwireless network, and wherein tracking the locations of the UEs via theLTaaS layer comprises determining that the first UE has migrated to aposition nearby a first network device in the first wireless network;and updating a first regional control center in the first wirelessnetwork to indicate that the first UE is located nearby the firstnetwork device in the first wireless network. Optionally, a second oneof the UEs is positioned in a second wireless network that is separatefrom the first wireless network, and wherein the method furthercomprises: sending an update from the first regional control center to asecond regional control center in the second wireless network, theupdate indicating that the first UE is located nearby the first networkdevice in the first wireless network, wherein the regional controlcenter in the second wireless network is adapted to notify the second UEof a relative location of the first UE upon request.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises receiving a request forlocation information of the first UE from a third party operator; andsending a response indicating a relative location of the first UE to thethird party operator. Optionally, the third party operator operates anetwork resource over which traffic destined for the first UE is beingtransported. Optionally, the third party operator is a virtual operator.

With reference to the above discussions, there is provided an embodimentmethod for content caching. The method comprises sensing, by a contentforwarding service manager (CFM), the popularity of available content,the available content being stored in one or more application servers;selecting, from the available content, content for caching in aninformation-centric networking (ICN) virtual network (VN) based on thepopularity of the available content; and prompting the selected contentto be forwarded to a network device in a radio access network (RAN) of awireless network, the network device comprising a virtual ICN server ofthe ICN VN, wherein the network device is adapted to provide theselected content to a virtual user-specific serving gateway (v-u-SGW) ofa served user equipment (UE) upon request.

In an embodiment, the selected content is stored by the network devicein an information-centric networking (ICN) format. Optionally, thev-u-SGW is adapted to translate the selected content from the ICN formatto a user-specific format before relaying the content having theuser-specific format to the served UE. In some embodiments, theuser-specific format comprises an internet protocol (IP) format.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises updating a content cachetable stored in the CFM to indicate that the selected content has beencached by the network device. Optionally,

the content cache table associates a name of the content with a networkaddress of the virtual WN server.

In an embodiment, the ICN VN is transparent to the served UE. In anotherembodiment, the ICN VN is operated by an operator of the wirelessnetwork. In an embodiment, the ICN VN is operated by a third partyoperator that is different than an operator of the wireless network.

With reference to the above discussions, there is provided an embodimentmethod for content caching, the method comprising: receiving content ata network device in a wireless network, wherein the network devicecomprises a virtual information-centric networking (ICN) server of a ICNvirtual network (VN); caching the content in an ICN format; receiving,by the network device, a content request from a virtual user-specificserving gateway (v-u-SGW) of a served UE; and forwarding the content inthe ICN format to the v-u-SGW, wherein the v-u-SGW is adapted totranslate the selected content from the ICN format to a user-specificformat before relaying the translated content to the served UE. In anembodiment, the user-specific format comprises an internet protocol (IP)format.

With reference to the above discussions, there is provided an embodimentmethod for execution at a resource allocation logical entity. The methodcomprises receiving a virtual data plane logical topology associatedwith a service provided by nodes in a network, the topology receivedfrom a logical entity in the network provide software define topologyservices; mapping the received virtual data plane topology to a set ofnodes in the network to create a physical data plane in the network fortransportation of traffic associated with the service; and instructing asoftware defined per service logical entity to select transportcharacteristics for the traffic associated with the service over thephysical data plane.

While this invention has been described with reference to illustrativeembodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in alimiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of theillustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention,will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to thedescription. It is therefore intended that the appended claims encompassany such modifications or embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for establishing a virtual gateway, themethod comprising: instantiating a first virtual gateway on a networkdevice, wherein the network device is assigned a host identifier (ID);and assigning a first local virtual gateway ID to the first virtualgateway, wherein different virtual gateways on the network device areassigned different local virtual gateway IDs; and configuring routingparameters in a network so that packets specifying both the host ID andthe first virtual gateway ID are forwarded to the first virtual gateway.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: instantiating a secondvirtual gateway on the network device; and assigning a second localvirtual gateway ID to the second virtual gateway.
 3. The method of claim2, wherein the first virtual gateway and the second virtual gateway areassociated with different user equipments.
 4. The method of claim 2,wherein packets specifying both the host ID and the second local virtualgateway ID are forwarded to the second virtual gateway.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first virtual gateway is a virtual user specificserving gateway (v-u-SGW) that is assigned to a served user equipment(UE).
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the v-u-SGW is configured totranslate content having an information-centric networking (ICN) formatinto a user-specific format, and relay the translated content to theserved UE.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device is in aradio access network.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the networkdevice is in an evolved packet core (EPC) network.
 9. An apparatusadapted to host a virtual gateway, comprising: a processor; and anon-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming forexecution by the processor, the programming including instructions to:instantiate a first virtual gateway on a network device, wherein thenetwork device is assigned a host identifier (ID); and assign a firstlocal virtual gateway ID to the first virtual gateway, wherein differentvirtual gateways on the network device are assigned different localvirtual gateway IDs; and configure routing parameters in a network sothat packets specifying both the host ID and the first virtual gatewayID are forwarded to the first virtual gateway.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the programming further includes instructions to:instantiate a second virtual gateway on the network device; and assign asecond local virtual gateway ID to the second virtual gateway.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein the first virtual gateway and the secondvirtual gateway are associated with different user equipments.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein packets specifying both the host ID andthe second local virtual gateway ID are forwarded to the second virtualgateway.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first virtual gatewayis a virtual user specific serving gateway (v-u-SGW) that is assigned toa served user equipment (UE).
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein thev-u-SGW is configured to translate content having an information-centricnetworking (ICN) format into a user-specific format, and relay thetranslated content to the served UE.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the network device is in a radio access network.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the network device is in an evolved packetcore (EPC) network.
 17. A computer program product comprising anon-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming, theprogramming including instructions to: instantiate a first virtualgateway on a network device, wherein the network device is assigned ahost identifier (ID); and assign a first local virtual gateway ID to thefirst virtual gateway, wherein different virtual gateways on the networkdevice are assigned different local virtual gateway IDs; and configurerouting parameters in a network so that packets specifying both the hostID and the first virtual gateway ID are forwarded to the first virtualgateway.
 18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein theprogramming further includes instructions to: instantiate a secondvirtual gateway on the network device, wherein the first virtual gatewayand the second virtual gateway are associated with different userequipments; and assign a second local virtual gateway ID to the secondvirtual gateway, wherein packets specifying both the host ID and thesecond local virtual gateway ID are forwarded to the second virtualgateway.
 19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the firstvirtual gateway is a virtual user specific serving gateway (v-u-SGW)that is assigned to a served user equipment (UE), and wherein thev-u-SGW is configured to translate content having an information-centricnetworking (ICN) format into a user-specific format, and relay thetranslated content to the served UE.
 20. The computer program product ofclaim 17, wherein the network device is either in a radio access networkor an evolved packet core (EPC) network.